Tampa Bay briefs

Dallas flight returns to TIA after smoke scare

TAMPA -- An American Airlines flight to Dallas returned to Tampa International Airport shortly after takeoff Wednesday night because someone smelled smoke in the cabin.

Flight 871, with 135 passengers, left TIA at 7:15 p.m. At 7:20, the airport was alerted that the plane intended to return and land as a precaution. Firetrucks were standing by on the runway while the plane landed.

The plane landed without incident.

Woman's body found in Coffee Pot Bayou

ST. PETERSBURG -- The body of an elderly woman was found floating in Coffee Pot Bayou early Wednesday, but police do not suspect foul play in her death.

St. Petersburg police think they know who the woman was. They think she was in her 80s and had health problems, said police spokesman George Kajtsa.

But they did not release her name Wednesday because relatives hadn't yet identified her body.

The woman was found floating near a dock at Coffee Pot Boulevard and 24th Avenue NE.

Police were trying to determine whether her death was an accident or suicide.

Deputies identify body found in St. Petersburg

ST. PETERSBURG -- Deputies have identified a man whose body washed ashore Tuesday in the Bay Pines area, but they have been unable to reach anyone related to him.

Charles Walter Jr., 61, worked at VA Medical Center at Bay Pines but may have been a transient, said Pinellas sheriff's Sgt. Greg Tita. His only known address was a post office box.

Walter's body washed up near a boat ramp in the Seahorse Mobile Home Park at 8713 44th Ave. N.

Authorities do not suspect foul play in his death.

"We believe he drowned after falling off a boat that was at a nearby dock," Tita said.